Hi guys,
Just letting you know that I'm back on this project after having some major change in my life over the last few months.
I've moved house, changed jobs, welcomed a Son into the world with my wife and have actually completed the build and network!
I'll let you know what I've got, how I've set it up and what I plan to do in the future with it.
Firstly, here's the new network map of the home network. All of the nodes have been connected through CAT5e and the blue line represents Wi-Fi connections;
I ended up settling with Windows Server 2012 as my operating system as I realised that I needed more than just media stored in a central location, also I'm running the printers from there and I've set it up as a secondary 'licensing' server.
For media server software I'm currently using Twonky, however when I've got some time, I'll be moving to Mezzmo as the server software, simply because with the LG DP-1 (which I scored for $85!) it doesn't matter what format I download in, it will play it. However, with the Xbox, it still doesn't like a lot of files (namely .mkv). Mezzmo will transcode on the fly all of the content flying through on it's way to the Xbox.
I'm still using uTorrent to download content as well as iTunes all saving into a central location.
So why am I still posting in the XBMC forum about my media setup that doesn't involve XBMC anywhere? Well, because I still want to build a HTPC. I want to build one in such a manner that it will look simply like a DVD player or set-top box, but it will encase a HTPC with a Blu-ray player.
I'll have another look around and come back to you with details and then the build guide. On the HTPC, I'll without doubt be using XBMC.